Improvement in steam-generators



3Sheets-Sheet 1.. T. L. JONES. Steam Generators.

No.199,648. Patented Jan. 29,1878.-

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N.PETEfiS, PHDTO-LITHORAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C

3 She ts-Sh'eet 2. T. L. JONES. Steam Generators.

N0.199,648. Pat ented Jan. 29, 1878 INVENTUH.

NJUERS, PHOTQ-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D C 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

-'T. L. JONES.

Steam Generators. I

No.199,648. Patented Jan. 29; 1s7s.

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UNITED, STATES THOMAS L. JONES, 0F NATGHEZ, MISSISSIPPI.

IM PROVEME NT IN STEAM-GENERATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,648, dated January 29,1878; application filed March 21, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. JONES, a resident of Natchez, Mississippi, have made new specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a generator embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, a

horizontal section taken on theline w a: of Fig.1 Fig. 3, a plan of the plunger used in injecting the heated gaseous currents into the generator Fig. 4, a sectional elevation of the latter; Fig. 5, a horizontal section taken on the line y y of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, an elevation of the hot-air valve; and Fig. 7, a horizontal section of the latter, taken on the line 2 z of Fig. 6.

Similar letters denote similar parts. I have heretofore made an improvement in steam-generators wherein the steam is genera 'ated by forcing a heated air current, together with the products of combustion of the fire used in heating the air-current, directly into and through the waterin' the generator.

In the construction referred to, the heating agency is between the air-inj ecting mechanism and the water of the generator-that is, the air is forced into and through the fi maize, and thence, together with the products of combustion, into the water of the generator.

This arrangement necessitates a uniform pressure throughout the construction, the pressure in the air-pump and furnace-chamber being the same as the steam-pressure within the generator.

In the present construction the injecting mechanism is located directly within the body of water contained in the generator, but is arranged to draw the air into and through the heating-furnace, andthen to force it, together with the products of combustion, into the water of the generator. As thus arranged the fire is always accessible, for, whatever steampressure there may be within the generator proper, only atmospheric pressure exists in the furnace-chamber. 'At the same time the air-injecting mechanism, from being surrounded by water, does not heat to such an extent as to interfere with the action of its working parts.

" In the annexed drawing, A representsa the upright cylindrical form, as shown.

B represents the furnace-chamber. It is arranged, preferably, at the side of the main portion of the generator in an extension, a, thereof, and so as to be surrounded with water. It is open both above and beneath to the open air, and is provided witha removable cover, b, grate b, and ash-pit b.

Tubes (J 0 lead from the furnace-chamber, and preferably from a point between the top and bottom of the fire therein, into what I term a settling-chamber, D, that is'arranged in the water-space of the generator and, pref erably, in the lower part thereof, as shown.

The chamber, by preference, has a tapering bottom, d. From this settling-chamber a passage or passages, in the form of the tube E,

I lead to the lower compartment f of a valvechamber, F, that is also contained in the water-space of the generator, and, preferably, in an extension, a, thereo The valve-chamber has an upper, f, and

lower, f, compartment, separated by the seat f, in which what I term the hot air-valve G works, and that serves to open and close the passage from the compartment f to the compartment f, as hereinafter describeol.

H represents a plunger that works up and down in the compartment f its operationbeing effected, preferably, by means of an auxiliary engine, I, whose piston-rod '5 connects with the stem h of the plunger. In the latter, and seating downward, are several valves, hh h h, that serve to open and close communication between the compartment f of the valvechamber and the main water-space a of the generator. a

The operation of the invention, as thus far described, is as follows: By means of theengine I the plunger is drawn, say, upward 1n the valve-chamber F. This movement closes the valves h h, and tends to form a vacuum beneath the plunger. This induces an air-current into the furnace B, where it is heated, and thence, together with the products of combustion, through the tubes 0 0 into the settling-chamber D, where the solid particles leaving the furnace-chamber have opportunity to settle. The heated currents thence pass by way of the passage E to the lower compartment f of the valve-chamber, and thence past the valve G into the upper compartment f, the upward movement of the plunger causing, by suction, the valve G to lift slightly from its seat f and admit the heated currents to the compartment f. The plunger is now, on its return-stroke, moved downward in the chamber f, which movement at once closes the valve G in its seat f, and opens the valves h h in the plunger. The heated gaseous currents are then forced past the valves h h into the waterspace of the generator, and thence escaping upward into and through the screw K to the upper part of the generator, as described in theimprovement above referred to. The plunger H is again drawn upward, causing an additional amount of heated air and gas to pass into the valve-chamber F, and thence, on the downward movement of the plunger, forced into the generator, and so on.

By duplicating the valve-chamber and parts immediately therewith connected, the flow of the gaseous currents from the furnace into the generator is made continuous.

It is important that every part of the generator that is exposed to the heated gaseous current be kept from overheating. I accomplish this by arranging all such parts so that water comes in contact with one side thereof. The hot-air valve G is accordingly made hollow, and is provided with a hollow stem, g, that opens at its upper end into the waterspace of the generator. It can also open below, at its lower end g, into the water-space of the generator; but 1 preferably extend this part of the stem through the outer wall or bottom of the generator, and utilize it as aninlet for the feed-water of the generator. The feed-water is thus brought immediately in contact with that portion of the mechanism which is the most likely to be injured by the heat.

Any suitable connection that .provides for the slight movement of the valve-stem can be made with its lower end 9, and the water, after entering the stem and valve G, passes upward through the upper part 9 of the stem into the generator.

The stem works in suitable stuffing-boxes, both above in the plunger H and below in the valve-chamber and easing of the generator.

. Suitable blow-0E cocks L L L L are attached to the various parts of the construction.

The preferable form 'of the hot-air valve G is shown more distinctly in Figs. 6 and 7. It is made comparatively large to admit a sufficient amount of water, and to enable the heated gaseous currents to readily pass with but a slight movement of the valve. The body 9 of the valve is made of a re-entering form, as Shown t gill m g/II gill A special advantage accrues from the arrangement of the pipes O C, so as to provide an exit from the furnace-chamber at the side thereof.

The top and bottom of the furnace .can be opened to the surrounding atmosphere without interfering with the operation of the invention.

If the exit were at the bottom of the furnace, the ash-pit could not be opened without admitting cold air to the generator, and for a similar reason the cover of the furnace could not be removed if the exit were at the a point between the top and bottom of the fire, the latter can be replenished and the ashes removed at will, for the air, whether entering the furnace through its top or bottom, must pass through aportion of the fire before entering the escape-pipe. The most desirable level for the latter I have ascertained to be a little below the center of the furnace, as this provides for the replenishment of the fire.

The amount of air entering the furnace can be suitably graduated, and the fire can beperfectly controlled by suitably admitting the air from above or beneath, as occasion may require.

I do not desire to be confined to any special number of exit-pipes O C. One ormore can be used, as desired. This advantage, however, arises from the use of two exits arranged opposite each other, as shown. The air is drawn more evenly through the fire.

The exit-pipes O O can, if preferred, pass directly to the valve-chamber I A further advantage arises from the abovedescribed arrangement of the furnace, airpump, and generator, and from drawing the air through the fire. The air has a better opportunity for becoming heated in the furnace .than if it were forced through the latter, and the amount of air used in proportion to the products of combustion escaping from the furnace is less. also be more accurately admitted to the furnace.

from the furnace B when the generator is not in operation.

-I claim- 1. The combination of the generator A, furnace B, pipes C, O, and E, settling-chamber D, and valve-chamber F, substantially as described.

2. In a steam-generator wherein the steam is generated by passing heated air or gaseous currents directly into and through the water in the generator, the arrangement, substantially as herein described, of the air and gas injecting mechanism within the body of water top of the furnace. But when the exit is at- The proper amount of air can M represents a chimney to receive the smoke generator A,

G, and plan- 4. The combination of the plunger H, hollow valve G, and stem 9 g, chamber F, and generator A, arranged substantially as described.

THOS. L. JONES.

Witnesses CHAS. D. MOODY, SAML. S. BOYD. 

